Kai
This feels familiar!
The vortex I find myself soaring through like a caped wonder at light speed is the same as the initial entrance, only accompanied by wind and the occasional soul that seems to pass by me.
Oh, and the fact I've been falling, so to say, for at least 5 minutes right now.
Plus, the fact I think…to be honest…I might've even blacked out for a bit there.
I…was dreaming…
Though I don't remember what…
I think…I remember protecting somebody against Demons…and…
Damn…getting fady.
This whole place also appears to get…more destabilized by the minute…I
t's probably as Damian said, it's trying to compensate for my…foreign nature.
Can't really blame him or anybody else.
Wait…hold up…
I rotate myself feet first just in case to brace myself…
Here we go!
?
"Something's happening,
Mind destructing, agony inside of me,
My pulse is racing, it's this paranoia,
Something's happening,
Mind destructing, agony inside of me,
My pulse is racing, it's this paranoia,
Denying, the rising
The crying, I'm dying-"
"Always thought you'd be singing 'I'm Always Chasing Rainbows'." I hear a certain someone behind me say as she joins me on the balcony overlooking the city. "You've been at that tune for a while now. Since when were you so into lyrics like that?"
"I dunno. It's just that kind you hum or sing to yourself." I say.
"Yeah, but it sounds so much unlike you." She says. "Normally you're so optimistic and everything but that's just so…I dunno."
"I guess I'm trying to distract myself from the fact that it's been over half a year since we've announced this project, and we've hardly made any progress…"
"Hey, we can do this." She encourages me. "Just…it's a new concept here. People've thought about it but nobody's actually tried it."
"I guess…" I say, pessimistic. "I just feel like we need a sign…something to tell us that what we're doing is working…or even a miracle to help us…"
"(Chuckle) Try finding those down here…" She sheepishly smiles, trying to uplift me, I return the smile to make her feel better.
However, contrary to her feeling such…
Something slams itself into the side of my head like stress forcing itself into my brain.
"GAH!" We exclaim, holding our palms to our foreheads as they erupt in pain.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
"Wuh-ah!" I exclaim, taken aback at the spontaneous change in events as the ground and structure begins to shake, my head still hurting and hers likely as well.
"Is that a Hellquake?!"
"I don't think they happen this far into the city!" I reply as I look at her, but she looks at the sky as she braces herself on the railing, her eye twitching, and catatonic. "What're you-?!"
I follow her gaze to the pentagram in the sky.
My expression becomes the same.
It's changed…
It never changes…
Instead of the normal sky as it is here, it's now a combination of the standard pentagram, another star I'm unfamiliar with, and a mixture of the Cross and upside down cross…
All linked together…via an…eye?
"What…even is…happen-"
CRACK!
I'm interrupted and jolt back as a bolt of orange lightning strikes the center of the eye, and then another, and another. The series of bolts keep striking it, the tingly feeling starting to saturate our skin as the electricity saturates the air, and everything around it as the ground continuously quakes.
I can even hear some of the exclaims of the people in the town…
Suddenly…from the center of the eye…
Comes a series of other lightning bolts…but…
They're red…
And they're all directed at the center of the city.
Even so…it feels like they're more different than everything else that's come before…
As if…
"Get the limo..." I utter.
"What?!" She turns to me as I sprint like a madman to get myself ready.
"GET THE LIMO! That's an arrival!" I shout at her as I throw on my formal attire, having recently woke up. "Tell the others to lock the place down just in case!"
"I got you…but…souls don't arrive here like that!" She replies as she goes to phone the driver and get herself ready as well.
I stare her down with all the seriousness I have.
"Souls arrive here by just falling. Whatever that was didn't arrive. It was sent here…" I utter.
"Wait…you're saying that…"
"That wasn't a Sinner Soul, it was something else."
? #2, moments ago
Damn! Nice to finally get outta there for once!
Jeez, I've been gettin' cabin fever in there ever since I was just told to basically 'play nice'…
I may be living at least part time in that hotel, but unfortunately, I still got 'quotas' to meet, despite the princess saying otherwise…
Not that I want to…can't even keep 100% of the profits…
I'm just standing in this alleyway, waiting for some 'wayward soul' wanting a 'good time' as I'm smoking a cig.
Sometimes I do wish that things would be different…that things would be…better…despite my circumstances…
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Huh?
Hellquakes?
Here in the city?
Weird-
CRACK!
What the-?!
LIGHTNING?!
We don't got storms here!
At least I don't think…
CRACK!
Another?!
The air is electrified?!
Damn! It's tingly!
What's going on?!
I make the mistake of looking up, seeing that the pentagram in the sky is different.
My thought process towards that is instantly cut off by the series of more lightning strikes towards the center…as white lightning emerges from the center of the apparent eye, striking off in the distance deeper in the city.
Did…something come here…?
Kai
I feel myself rematerializing at mach speeds, figuratively, as my bolt-of-lightning-self slams into the ground, creating a crater. The entire area around me gets illuminated, saturated by the rogue lightning while I'm in a kneeling position that was used to brace myself. Eventually, the residual electricity dissipates from my form as well as the metal on my armor.
I look up, and through my visor…is not what I expected Hell to be at all.
It's definitely got that deep red color to it as if it were dusk 24/7, but it's a heavily urban area.
The sky is also evening-red, but there's a pentagram in the sky.
Yup, definitely Hell.
Thought it'd be like fire and brimstone, but I've been wrong before.
This place is built like New York, or San Francisco.
Seems like accurate comparisons.
I get up from my kneeling position and stand tall like a cybernetic soldier that got dropped into a futuristic D-Day.
Okay, the First said that I needed to track down the Goetias, and make contact with the Morningstars to let them know he sent me…
I'll figure out which one I'll be able to do first.
Using my mechanical armor, I begin getting out of the crater I find myself in and start trekking further into the unknown.
I walk down the center of the road I seemed to have landed that leads into the city, my senses on high alert for any hostilities.
Probably should either ask any neutral entities or find some high ground to get a feel for where I am.
I look slightly up to see if there's any notable landmarks, and the first one I see is a clocktower of sorts.
Let's try there first.
I kick myself into a jog/sprint, not going too slow to where I'm don't know where I'm going, but not too fast to where it seems that I'm hostile…despite my heavy motorcycle-armor.
As I'm on the move now, I notice some windows opening up from the structures reminiscent of apartment complexes, and out comes a whole plethora of creatures I'd assume to be the denizens of this world.
Beings of all shapes and sizes, and they're all looking at me in confusion.
Even some pull themselves out of nearby alleyways and trashcans, almost as if they were hiding from something.
I'd have to assume there's something that happens here that causes them to go into high alert, maybe capital law or a prosecution that goes into effect from time to time.
It doesn't take long for me to get to the clocktower, it's a very tall building. On the outer bottom side, there are two signs: "you deserve this" and "exspectans" (I'd assume that's Latin for "waiting"). There are many posters just above, and in the middle, there is a large smiling silhouette made from graffiti.
Above is the inscription "next cleanse", and below it is a window with a countdown to the next extermination by day. At the top is a huge old clock with a pentagram in the middle.
The countdown says:
NEXT CLEANSE
183
DAYS
Called it.
I switch to an upgraded grappling option I whipped up before I left and aim it at the top, firing the hook and allowing it to lock onto the stable structure. Using the powerful winding mechanism, I allow it to carry me to the very top.
I've built a lot in my time here…and I know I've been doing alright in terms of dealing with the threats up there…but at this point it's just an excuse for me to continue holding back…
Speak knew that in our fight…and even Coen does…
Had I not…I'd been able to defeat the former…
Just…food for thought…
I reach the ledge and pull myself up, standing tall among the entire city, getting an exceptional view of it as I take a bird's perch position to observe.
I fold up the visor protecting my mask to see slightly better.
There are billboards, hotels, stores, some places are more visibly rundown than others.
Yeah, definitely New York.
No wait, there's a sign that says, 'Welcome to Hell'.
Didn't see the difference.
Far away there're castles, which I'd assume are the locations of the royal family here, if not for the fact that there are several other castles and mansions around as well.
They all vary in shapes and sizes…but they all have symbols on them…so maybe I can figure out which is which.
I distinctly remember the Goetia symbol…and there's a mansion with the symbol on it further off in the distance.
I think that last part to myself and point at it.
Only issue is that…I've never seen the Morningstar symbol…
So I've located the Goetia residence…should I maybe at least find the Morningstar residence and contact them…?
There's a structure off relatively close that looks like it came out of the brain or fever dream of Willy Wonka that says…
Hazbin Hotel
Let's start there.
I slide my visor back down.
Yunno, it's like a friend of mine said.
Leap of faith
"What's up, danger?" I say to myself as I leap off the edge, allowing gravity to carry myself down.
The air resistance brushes up against my armor and visor as I descend, my focus entirely on the tall stable structures ahead of me.
When I'm within terminal velocity, I fire my hook towards the closest one, it latches on and the centrifugal force carries me in an arc as I swing, feeling the G-force all the while.
This is fun…
I disengage the first hook and ready a second one I have as it retracts, firing that one at the next building as I keep up the rhythm of swinging and shooting.
So, this is how it feels.
I even pull off some deadly moves, spins, and flips periodically as I do, wanting to savor this.
Surprisingly, I haven't been attacked by-
SQUAK!
Oop!
I spontaneously take an evasive maneuver to dodge a flying critter that passes me, not having time to figure out what it looked like.
Eventually, I get within walking distance of the Hotel, and use the swinging momentum to fling myself upwards, allowing the hook to retract back into the mechanism.
I freefall once more, and superhero-land atop one of the nearby buildings to observe the structure once more before entering.
So far…this has been too easy…
Hey, I'm just calling it now, only saying based on experience.
As I think that to myself, I just so happen to hear a vehicle running through the city. Looking back, I see the headlights of a white limo driving through, the color scheme and design of it evident of someone of higher class…
That's got to be someone of the royal family here, or at least someone of great influence.
Even more so due to the power that's emanating from it…
Funnily enough, despite the fact that it's going towards the Hotel…it stops…right where I am on this side of the road.
They definitely followed me, was so focused on swinging around I forgot to pay attention.
Future reference: Wits about you, ALWAYS.
The door opens, and out comes 2 figures.
They're a bit of a distance away, so I can't make out the fine details, only faint colors.
One is distinctly pearly white with red clothing, and the other is light ash grey.
The former is the one pulsating the power.
"H-Hello…?!" The sound of a girl around my age calls out. "Can you hear me?"
Despite me squinting my eyes, I mentally say 'screw it'.
The structure below me seems abandoned, so I think I can do this move.
I reach behind me and pull out what I call my Stake Driver, the weapon I used against Speak the first time we fought here. It's that heavily mechanized staff that's got an exceptionally strong point to it.
I get a bit of a running start and leap off the building, driving the weapon into the wall and allowing it to slow me down as I maintain my poker face despite it being under all this armor.
When I land with my Driver standing upwards like a spear warrior, causing a slight shockwave of dust to get kicked up, I look upwards to witness the first 2 people here.
On the left is tall, slender humanoid female standing only an inch or so shorter than me if I was not in my suit. She has long, blonde hair, with lighter blonde and pink highlights, which is tied into a twice-banded low ponytail. Her blonde bangs flip to her left with a curl. Her lips are black, and she has rosy-red cheeks reminiscent of a marionette. As noted before her skin is pearly white, almost shiny, even. She wears grey eyeliners, her eyes are red, her sclera is light yellow, and she has thick black eyelashes, both top and bottom. Her accessories consist of a small black bowtie and black suspenders, with an untucked white, long-sleeved dress-shirt. Over this she usually wears a fitted red tuxedo jacket with dark-red lapels and a pair of red fitted pants. She wears black and white saddle shoes.
On the right is another slim humanoid with, upon closer inspection, muted gray-lavender colored skin. Her hair is white and has a jagged, moth-like shape to the cut, with gray-lavender stripes at the ends. She wears a large, ragged dark reddish-pink bow with two long tails on the back of her head, which reacts along with her moods. Her right eye has an ivory white iris, and her sclera is light pink. Her left eye is missing and is replaced by a dark reddish-pink X on a slate-gray eyepatch. She wears a dark pink blouse with a dark slate-gray peter-pan style collar, scalloped trim to the sleeves, and two buttons down the front. Her choker and skirt are the same dark slate gray. In addition, she wears long slate-gray fingerless gloves and long thigh-high stockings, which are scalloped with white at the tops and the tips of the toes.
They're both taken aback by my heavily mechanized suit of armor.
"Are…you the one who arrived…in that lightning?" The light one asks.
"Yes." I say through my mask as I nod.
"You're not an Exterminator, are you?" The dark one prepares to shield the other one.
"No." I shake my head.
The two of them slightly exhale before I ask the questions now.
I look at the light one.
"Charlie Morningstar?" I ask.
Both of their eyes go wide, and the dark one gets defensive, spontaneously pulling out a spear from somewhere and pointing it at me as the other becomes confused.
"How…do you know my name?" She asks, confused.
As a security measure, and to convince the dark one, I reach into my pocket slowly so as to not make it look like I'm doing a quickdraw on either of them…
I pull out the badge with the goat's horn 'L' and flash it to them.
"The First sent me here. I request your aid."
They suddenly exchange glances at each other, not believing what they're hearing as Charlie takes the badge, seemingly feeling it up in more ways than one to validate its authenticity. It confirms it as she gives it back to me.
"Why…did he send you…?" Charlie asks.
"In addition to speaking with both you and your father, I need to locate the Goetia family. I merely need to speak to Lord Stolas."
"Why's that?" The dark one asks as I put the badge and my Stake Driver, which I collapse, away. She does the same with her weapon after seeing me do it first.
"There may be a plot for a power seizure, I'm here to investigate and hopefully stop it."
"One moment, please." The dark one says as the two of them huddle, facing away from me.
I can still hear them, but I pretend not to, for their sake…at least for now.
"Charlie, I don't know about this guy!"
"I know, Vaggie, but you felt that badge! Dad's counterpart sent him here!"
"Since when does your dad have multiple selves?! I never felt that kind of power from him before, I've known you forever and why am I just now learning about this?!"
"Dad hardly talks about him because…well…it's literally him in another body! I've met the First's family before; we've had actual conversations with each other. Dad is known as the Second."
"Why's that?"
"I don't know! That's just how the two are differentiated!"
"But it's the fact that not only does this guy want to speak with House Goetia, of whom I hear are not even doing the best right now, but it's that he wants to speak with YOUR family, and comes from the sky screaming bloody hell!"
"I mean…he wasn't really screaming…and we are in hell…and no blood's been shed yet-"
"CHARLIE!"
"Okay! Okay…but…what else do you think we should be doing right now? If he wanted to kill us, he would've done so already…and that badge can only be given voluntarily. He has to be legit."
"Or he could be waiting until you and your family are together and then he'll kill all of you at once!"
"Vaggie, what's up with you today?"
"I don't know…just…frustrated…and worried…and look at him! Doesn't he match the description Lord Stolas said his daughter might've seen throughout her life?"
"I know, but those were in her dreams! Coincidences happen."
"You call this a coincidence?!"
That last piece of information sounds like something I should put in the back of my mind…at least for a bit…
"If this is about the dramatic entrance, it was the only way I'd be able to come here." I say, cutting them off.
The one named Vaggie looks at me deadpanned while Charlie blushes slightly in embarrassment.
"Were you able to hear us the entire time?" The former's eye twitches.
"Hey, I wanted to let you girls speak." I hold up my hands innocently.
She grumbles in frustration.
I can't help but think about the fact that Lord Stolas's daughter…knew about me…?
That…sounds VERY…. interesting…and concerning…
I sigh.
"You know, I greatly apologize, I believe some proper introductions are in order. You introduced yourselves to me so graciously, showing yourselves without hesitation, I had not had the manners to do so myself." I say, bowing my head. "One moment, please."
I take a kneeling position, pressing the button on my waist to disengage all the locking mechanisms on me, and pressing the second button to transform my suit back into its true motorcycle form.
The plates and segments all slide away from my armor, making whirring and clanging sounds all the while, the wheels slide from my back into their respective positions on the bike and the seat from my chest disengages as well.
When all is said and done, I step off my bike, allowing myself to stretch slightly after being in there for a while.
The two of them stare at my mechanical achievement in awe, their pupils shrinking at having seen something like this for the very first time.
When I am officially on their level, they seem to relax significantly more than having seen me effectively prepared for war.
"Now, I can take a real moment to break the ice." I say.
I press the button on my neck.
WHOO-CLICK!
The helmet unfolds off my head and stores itself behind me, completing the reveal.
Their eyes shrink even more so than before, and the two of them almost going into shellshock at seeing my face as their jaws drop.
"Nice to see a familiar face, huh?" I quip, referencing to how Charlie and I look similar in humanoid structure.
"A HUMAN?!" Charlie screams, her voice almost echoing across the land.
"Impossible…" Vaggie utters, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You don't know what's possible." I say as I'm swarmed with the suddenly-fangirl Charlie.
"OMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSH! I-I'VE NEVER SEEN A REAL HUMAN IN THE FLESH! I'VE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT YOU GUYS! WHAT'S LIFE LIKE UP THERE?! IS THERE REALLY A SUN?! DOES THE FOOD TASTE GOOD?! ARE THERE WATERFALLS THERE?! WHAT WONDERS DO YOU HAVE UP THERE-!"
"CHARLIE!" Vaggie shouts at her companion, shaking her to calm her down.
"Sorry, Vaggie. I just…EEEK! It's so amazing to finally meet one of you!" She bounces up and down and claps her hands like a child.
"Pleasure to meet you too, Ms. Morningstar." I politely greet her with a bow. "I am Kai."
"Oh, just call me Charlie…also…just Kai? Nothing else?" She courteously asks as she returns the gesture.
"Until I know this place can be trusted." I cryptically say.
Despite a head tilt from her, she still goes back to gushing.
"Well…welcome to…Hell…I guess…" She rubs the back of her head. "It's weird to say that to anybody who comes here willingly…"
"First time?" I ask, referring to myself being such.
"Yeah…" She glances at me.
"Charlie, can we maybe just get back to the Hotel? We can talk more there." Vaggie advises her.
"That would be wise." I back up her input.
"Oh, okay. Does that…uh…bike…of yours drive…or…?" She asks.
"Yes, exceptionally so. I can follow you back there if you like." I suggest.
"Perfect!" She smiles as the two get back into the limo, it starts back up as I rev my bike up to follow them.
It doesn't even take us a minute before we find ourselves parking near the Hotel.
Upon closer inspection, I can finally take in the full up close view of it…and it really is something.
The exterior is a tall, elaborate amalgamation of arched windows and turrets, one of which seems to be broken…if they function…I can seriously have a field day with those…
The rest of the building appears to be at least seven stories tall, with at least five of which I'd imagine being guest floors. Remnants of an airship, an ocean liner, a sailing ship and a carousel litter both sides and appear to have been incorporated into the structure of the building itself; there is also a train with some tracks looping the first and second floor exterior.
Side note: Can I meet the one who built this place as well as the one who designed this? I'd really like to shake the hand of whoever did…
Located on the top right of the building is a small radio broadcasting room, probably meant for announcements or a podcast or something like that.
Many signs are displayed outside the hotel: One atop the entrance reminiscent of the Hazbin Hotel logo, a large pink one atop the building with the hotel's name in lights, a neon 'HOTEL' sign at the bottom right and atop the building where that broadcast room is located, a small 'On-Air' sign is visible. Also located on the outer facade are various arrows pointing to the entrance and the broadcast room.
The entrance has a tented cover with a booth in the center reminiscent of a circus or theater ticket booth. On either side of the booth are a set of double doors that have stained glass, on one side there seems to be recent repairs to fix an apparent explosion that must've occurred due to an attack of sorts, as evidenced by the semi-recent inward bending of the metal.
Charlie gestures to a little garage built into the structure.
"You can hide your bike in there. Don't worry about our limo, Hell's residents don't mess with royalty property." She advises.
"Appreciate it, but I also don't think that last statement is entirely accurate." I say, knowing that she doesn't know about the Grimoire just yet.
The First seemed to have put some kind of cloaking spell over it so other forces would not be able to find it.
I place my bike in the garage and walk out as the doors close and lock, I see the girls at the front and meet them over there.
"So, uh, just as a forewarning, when you see the demon with the radio voice and the dramatic personality…don't shake his hand, he's basically a loan shark on steroids." Charlie advises me with a concerned look. "Also, if you see a spider demon with two different eye colors, he's gonna try and…get all up and close to you and things like that…just…don't engage or remove yourself, even him if you have to…"
"Appreciate it." I courteously thank her.
She takes a deep breath and turns the knob on the door, but her expression quickly goes into frustration as I hear her whisper.
"Dammit KeeKee! You left the door unlocked again!"
She sighs before opening it and allowing us to effectively waltz in, our silhouettes signifying our arrival.
When we first walk in, I notice a bright green stand that says 'Caviar Bar', that uses skeletons, snakes, and bones as general themes, along with card suits and candles, and advertises itself as a casino.
The word 'concierge' is shown above the bar, being evident of a front desk…
And being manned by a feline being.
As I look around the rest of the area, it's safe to say the overall theme of the building is ornate and regal, with stained glass windows, lavish furniture, and generous usage of gold. It all seems recently refurbished with evidence of work, labor, and intricate redesigns. Like the rest of Hell, the hotel has a largely red color scheme. There are many apple, snake, and circus motifs throughout the hotel's interior, in reference to the royal family. Though based on my Biblical knowledge, I'd deduce it's a reference to Charlie's father, Lucifer.
Hey, I read books too, you know, especially the best ones, even the ones that are basically guidelines that say 'don't be a d*ck'.
Eyes are also a recurring theme throughout the building, appearing on the frame of almost every single painting and several vases and jars.
Seems that last part isn't exclusively something in my experience…
"Uh…welcome, wayward soul, to the Hap…Hazbin…Hotel! Please be welcome to stay as long as you need!" Charlie announces to me, seeming correct herself in the middle there.
"Why say it like that?" I ask as I raise my eyebrow.
"I'm…trying to get a good greeting line." She says, holding her hand on her neck sheepishly.
"Interesting. How about…'Welcome to your second chance!'?" I suggest.
"Hmm…maybe…something along those lines may sound good. That IS the point of this place." She nods as she smiles. "Thanks."
"Welcome." I return the grin.
"So…first things first, we need to get you checked in to a room." She explains as she walks ahead. "Follow me."
She leads me to that front desk/bar area and we soon come face to face with that feline creature I noticed.
"Husk…? Husk?" Charlie looks at the currently sleeping 'Husk', his head resting on his hand with the other with an obvious bottle of labelled cheap booze and an ashtray with cigars on it.
"HUSKER!" Vaggie shouts at him as his hand slips, his head hits the front desk as he flies awake, his eyes sporadically blinking.
He stands up straight, looking at the one who woke him up in anger as I get a good look at him.
When his frustration flares up, even I'm surprised to see that he has wings that flap in fury.
The look is evocative of a magician, paired with a casino referencing playing-card theme, seeming fitting for the desk he's stationed at.
The sclera of his eyes are black, with yellow irises and slitted pupils. He has long, red eyebrows with black vertical stripes near the tips, and a small black heart above each eyebrow.
His fur is taupe-colored, overlayed with white on his face, torso, feet, and upper arms. The insides of his ears are white with a red tip at the point and red heart in the center. A black tuff of fluff protrudes from each, creating the appearance of small hearts.
He has a darker shade of taupe encircling his ankles, mimicking spats. His tail is taupe and long, ending with a large spray of "plume-like" fur or feathers, which are dark pink with black and white stripes. He has yellow-orange hearts underneath the paws on his hands.
His wings are large and red, with dark taupe on the undersides. The undersides of his wings are decorated with black stripes which feature red and white roulette wheel dot markings. The outside of the wings are decorated with more black stripes, which wrap around the joints and run around a row of white roulette wheel dots.
He accessorizes with a black top hat with a red hatband and a golden button-like decoration, as well as a red bowtie and black suspenders over his shoulders.
"WHAT THE-?! VAGGIE! WHAT THE HELL DID…I…tell you…" Husk shouts at Vaggie with a gruffy old-man voice, but his fury is soon replaced with disbelief as he notices my presence. "What…the…f-"
"Yes, Husk, he's…who you think he is." Charlie says to him, interrupting his swearing. "We need a key for a room, he's gonna be here for a bit."
"If possible, is there one that has some more space? I need it for a few things I'm working on." I whisper to Charlie, who forwards the request to husk.
The wide-eyed Husk looks at his bottle, thinking that it's making him hallucinate, and even goes so far as to push it aside a little and reach under the counter, pulling out a metal keychain marked with '5433' as he proceeds to stare at me whilst sliding it over.
"Thank you." I say graciously as I hold the chain and put it in my pocket.
"That will be where you can stay when you're down here." Charlie says.
"Appreciate it." I nod.
"Do you by chance need any help getting there?"
"I'll be okay. I'll look around for a bit."
"Alright. Let me know if you need anything. We can go meet with my father tomorrow. Got some stuff I gotta take care of today." She says.
"Copy."
"See ya in a bit, Kai." She smiles as she and Vaggie start to head out.
"You too, Charlie. See you, Vaggie." I say to them respectfully as the room is soon just me and the only other soul in here.
As I look at Husk again, I notice a few things about him.
He's got the eyes of someone who's been through things in his life, and given that he's resorted to alcoholism and smoking, chronically by the looks of it, as well as given his age based on his voice…
I'd have to assume he's seen combat before.
Husk seems to see that I'm eyeing him up.
"What's your deal, human? Tryna make friends down here in Hell? If Angel was here, he'd be saying 'Didn't know demons kept their upstairs look!'." He snarks as he reaches for a cigar, lighting it and taking a huff.
"You a fighter?" I ask, slightly surprising him.
In response to the question, he blows a puff of smoke away from me as he closes his eyes to reminisce a little, as if he were reminded of his life beforehand.
"Could say that." He dismissively says.
"Marine? SEAL? Special forces?" I interrogate him.
"Why you wanna know?" He raises his eyebrow.
"I already do, could tell you used to fight, just wondering what manner and who you fought for." I reveal.
"Okay Sherlock Holmes…" He quips. "Yeah, I fought."
"Where?"
He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes as he remembers further.
"Was in the Corps. 3rd Marine Division. Fought in the Pacific, Korea, even saw Vietnam. Saw the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima." He says, even being down here with the damned, he still smiles at his achievements and the sights he saw.
World War 2, the Forgotten War, and even the Vietnam War…
This man has seen it all…
"Semper Fi." I say respectfully, he looks at me, his eyes widening again.
"Ooh-rah." He responds as he smiles genuinely, seeming glad to find a kindred spirit. "You a fighter too?"
"So to say. I'm good at it. But to be honest, between me and my buddies, only one of us wore the Green Beret officially. The best of all of us."
"Special Forces, huh?"
"Yeah. Was the youngest of all of them. Fought in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan. Was known for frequently being able to do one-man missions and take out entire camps on his own. Was quieter than a slice of bread hitting the ground, clever as all getout, and had an insane propensity to adapt to many environments. Had a fighting instinct like no other. He always did so because if there was a chance he could keep his comrades from risking their lives, he'd take it."
"Damn, sure as hell woulda like to have a talk with him." He says, impressed, blowing smoke again.
"I would too…" I say unintentionally.
Damn…let it slip out…
"Why's that?" He asks, taking another puff of his cigar.
I exhale…deciding that this might be best.
"He's…lost now…" I admit somberly as I look down.
"Dead or missing?"
"Missing, but it's been almost half a year now and we don't know where he is. We assume the worst, given the circumstances surrounding it." I say.
"I won't pry. I understand your sentiment." He says respectfully.
"Thanks Husk." I say as I reach out my hand for a handshake. "I'm Kai."
"Nice to meet ya." He says as he returns it.
"So, how'd you get here?" I ask.
"Hell or here?" He raises his eyebrow.
"Both, I guess?" I shrug my shoulders.
"Was…shaken up so to say after 'Nam. F**kin' Viet Cong was basically Japan 2.0 with what they did…coped with what happened through booze and stuff as you saw…and…you know what happens. Found myself atop the roof of a casino, blacked out soon after, all I remember is falling. Couldn't tell if the booze killed me, or if it was me hitting the ground."
OH...!
I'm aware of Unit 731...was one of the worst cases of human experimentation I've ever had the displeasure of knowing about.
Actually saw a documentary/reenactment of it...the effects and sounds weren't the best but it was still hard to watch...
Some of the worst 4 hours of my life...
"Damn." I say.
"Eh, couldn't even notice it, it's how it goes." He dismissively says, already knowing he's here as he reaches to take a sip of his drink. "So, kid. Why're you here, still alive?"
"Long story short, I got attacked by some Imps from down here." I let him in on a little bit of the secret, causing Husk to choke and sputter on his booze.
"Imps?! Up there?! Why-How?! That shouldn't even be possible!" He exclaims.
"Yeah, exactly why I'm down here. I need to speak with Lord Stolas. So to say, he may or may not know something about it. From the Imps and their Hellhound friend I managed to hear that they were blackmailed into doing so otherwise quote, "They'd kill the-". I know who one of the blackmailers is, and based on what the First's son said, it's likely a Chaos Deity. But there was mention of 'armored twins'…and I'm…dreading of where or when they're going to show up…" I explain.
"That…sounds like things are about to hit the fan soon." Husk says.
"Yeah. Basically. But…I'm guessing you know the saying…sis vic pacem…" I start to say.
"Parabellum." He finishes.
Later
"Okay…got that here…and…done!" I say, deploying the last part of my workbench in my room.
During my time in the overworld, I was working on a portable version of a workbench to bring with me in case I ever needed to.
There are…other methods I have…but…they're confidential.
The entire bench is now ready for me to get back to creating and constructing.
I still can't believe I built so much in the first 2 weeks of me being here, and I still did so even during everything that was going on.
Okay…so what to build…?
Hmm…
I wonder…
Actually…
I can't shake the feeling I might cross paths with…what were their names…
Blitz, Millie, Moxxie…again.
And that Hellhound…Loona.
Seriously, she seemed like the youngest out of all of them, but she had to have been the bravest in that situation.
That…I can respect.
Now that I think of her…I remember one of two things that I did to get her to drop her apparent human disguise.
SST!
I look at my left wrist, which I equipped with a needle I just extended for blood extraction in case I need to perform blood transfusions on people who would need it.
Despite the fact I know of other ways to help save and heal people…
When I grabbed Loona, I sunk the needle into her skin, but I took care not to hit her vital areas like her trachea or her carotid artery, only piercing the blood vessels to get a sample.
I pull out a blood vial, which the needle is still attached to, that was hidden further down my arm.
I stare at the red substance inside, knowing it's part of someone down here I beat up.
Reaching inside my case again, I pull out a little device I brought meant to test any blood I have to make sure it's safe for transfusion, to see if it has afflictions or not.. It has the appearance of a miniature MRI machine with the tube facing upwards. I open the case, revealing a spot to lock in the vial, and set it in as it accepts the sample. A screen pops up that says 'ANALYZING', and a progress bar shows up too.
I didn't do anything like this to anybody up there because it would've sounded and looked weird, despite the fact I had that needle at the ready,,,
I'm only doing this now because I was in that situation with Loona and thinking, why not?
BEEP!
When the device finishes analyzing the sample, I look at the screen that allows me to flip through the findings.
And what I find…is interesting…VERY INTERESTING.
Her blood cells have the shape and color of normal ones, but they seem more active so to say.
They react with one another in a rapid succession.
Her cells, even visibly, on the screen, are regenerating, fast.
So she can heal, given time…
Despite the fact she has a body that functions as such on the physical plane, her physiology is like this…I guess… is because she is, technically, like everyone down here:
Spectral Beings.
I'd imagine because they are all so, it'd take specific ways to put them down for good. It's almost like an Immortality Field, as long as you are either within the boundaries or hail from it originally, you're not going to die unless you are killed with something meant for you.
This must be why Speak and his associates must be targeting this place…
The potential is limitless…
I flip through the screen to find something else that makes me audibly confused.
In the blood, the machine found-
"Syphillis?"
Okay…someone's been around…
So it seems she can contrast diseases as well despite her spectral nature. Again, physical body.
Looking at it now, I think if they were killed, they'd regenerate a new body…but I don't know if whatever affliction they have would stay with them…so maybe the healing only applies to physical wounds and doesn't supply antibodies for illnesses unless they were to be cured down there…
Food for thought, just curious on their biology and how this works.
I switch to an option on the device and select a specific function on there.
The device, making mechanical whirring noises, begins dropping samples of the blood into other parts of the machine, stimulating the white blood cells and having them react with the syphillis virus.
Standard stimulation with the sickness to generate antibodies.
There's a military-like syringe at the very end…waiting for the finished product.
As I know this process will take a while, I set aside the machine and reach inside a bag I brought, filled with the only other thing I didn't completely destroy when I fought the Imps.
The Flintlock Pistol.
Looking at it now, it seems very intricate, titanium nitrate mock-gold with an eye near the firing hammer.
It's destroyed in the fact that the firing mechanism is basically caved in, but the barrel is still intact…if I meet them again, Blitz seemed extremely distraught that I broke this…
Probably should make a peace offering for him as well...I'm just saying that based on my instincts in case we meet again, still can't emphasize that enough.
I turn on the lights of my bench and take a look at my new project, gauging on what exactly I should do.
Based on my current knowledge of firearms, when it comes to things related to flintlocks, a special weapon or two distinctly comes to mind.
The Springfield trapdoor rifle is basically a modified musket, with the firing mechanism switched out for the breech-loading option.
A flintlock is the same thing…so I could maybe apply something like that there.
All I'd need is to remove the damaged parts and replace it with my own.
The 2 options in mind are: Either the Springfield Trapdoor or upgrade it to a Sharps rifle mechanism.
The former design of the flintlock uses black powder and percussion, but uses a non-aerodynamic bullet and is known for not being very accurate…don't even get me started on the reload time…
I remember reading at one point it's slightly more difficult to maintain the Trapdoor, as you'd basically have to remove the metal from the wood to clean it…
It's settled, I'll upgrade Blitz's flintlock pistol by fixing it and putting a Sharps cartridge loading mechanism in. It'll use .50-70 bullets and I'll even make a special adapter to fire .45-70 if he needs to save cash.
Might carve a pattern in the handle to give it that little extra sentimental value.
I reach into the case I took from my bike that contains all my special tools, the needles I used to sew together the weighted suits, the springs used to expertly craft Cameron's new durable bracer shields, the ion torches used forge Damian's hook swords via superheating and the hammers for folding, and even miscellaneous scraps and pieces I can put together to make something new should I need to.
With my new tools of destruction at the ready, I bring them all down on Blitz's pistol, getting to work on creating a new one…
I'm already thinking of a new name for his weapon…
As I do, I have time to think about everything that's happened, including the fact that despite what I've been through in my life, I first made friends and peace with Damian, and have now befriended the daughter of the devil...who is currently trying to redeem the damned.
Weird, huh?
Seeker
Nowhere is safe from us. Even if it's to the end of the earth, and beyond.
Funny how he must abide by the laws of getting places, whilst we just do it!
The Twins already provided me with the means to travel to the Underworld of this place. The trip was fun, like sliding down an avalanche on your feet.
I feel myself materializing in a distinctly cold area, must be the purported 9th circle.
Sure enough, there's ice everywhere as if we were in a cave filled with it, shiny on the ground and rock on the roof.
I also detect 2 presences nearby, and in one singular leap, I soar towards them.
When I land, supervillain style, I lift my head to witness 2 of our most powerful associates…
Or Mercenaries…if you will…
Duo Mortae: Maora Ul…and Faora Ul…
The Twins are young adult women, with a similar level of physical fitness and training thanks to their parents doing so since they were young.
Maora has short and thick blond hair, green eyes, and appearing much like a female Dolph Lundgren. Faora has dark and messy hair, blue eyes, though with the addition of facial scars.
The two of them utilize heavily mechanized suits of armor made from who-knows-what. Maora's is pearly white, and Faora's is pitch black. Both suits are composed of hexagonal plated segments linked together via a dense armored mesh that keeps them together, the plates and layers are thin enough to where they can hide them under clothes and take people by surprise. The fact they have deployable battle helmets, like Kai, means that it's possible for them to blend in anywhere.
In addition to their…other abilities they fight alongside each other, it's like one mind in two bodies…their coordination is so precise it even shocks Boss…
Speaking of abilities…Kai…was seriously holding back…I still can't emphasize that enough.
If he wasn't, he wouldn't've needed Krauss to come and save him…
"Which one are ye?" Maora, or Maye, asks.
"Never seen ya' before." Faora, or Faye, quips.
"Seeker. Formerly Speak." I announce myself.
"Whaddup, squirt?" Maye asks.
"Was only sent here because you had info." I say.
"Yeah, managed to find a beat-up grey lady with yella eyes. wanted to ask for an alliance and she graciously said yes." Faye explains.
"She's got connections down here?" I ask.
"She knows things…and could potentially grant access to a few persons of interest…if you yourself are…" She adds.
"And who are these persons of interest?" I ask.
"Well…there's either one, two, even three, depending. One is that Zill guy she tried to have those vampires get after, but ye know how that went." Maye says.
"Who're the others?" I ask.
"There's a princess or two here that display some…potential…so to say…" She answers.
"One is connected to a part of that owl family here…" Faye cryptically hints at.
"And the other is the daughter of Lucifer…" Her sister says.
Key members from both factions…and all of it could very well be the thing…
That brings us back to our full glory!
Chapter End
(Wanted to include that one part to demonstrate Kai's ingenuity and engineering prowess. He's not all brawn, he's quite a bit of brains too. Please leave a vote, comment (your input is always appreciated), maybe a follow while you're at it, thank you!)